Vista - Windows.old folder - Restore into a new installation

**lordbob75**

How to Restore your Windows.old Folder into a New Installation

Information

When you install Windows on top of another Windows or do a upgrade install, the previously installed Windows files and settings will be backed up to the Windows.old folder. This tutorial will show you how to restore the files and folders from the windows.old folder to the currently installed Windows.

This means that any documents, settings, and programs will be restored to their previous positions and settings.
It will look similar to your previous installation, but not exactly the same! There will be some differences!

YES, this works in Vista, as well as Windows Seven. The instructions are EXACTLY the same!

Warning

Make sure you:

Know how to boot from a CD/DVD.
Know how to install Windows from a DVD, over an existing installation.

Make sure that the free space on the drive you are restoring to has enough free space for the windows.old folder.

This does NOT work perfectly!!!
When I used this, I still encountered some errors, such as TWO Program Files folders, and missing icon pictures.

This is NOT a recommended way to do a restore! It will work, but you should back up your data and take the time to either create a restore image, or reinstall your files.

It WILL work just fine for files such as those in your Documents folder.

Setup:
1) Make sure that you want to do a new installation. If you are, then boot into the Install Disk and complete the installation.

2) Now you want to restore some of your old files? OK, read on!

Let's begin:

1) Insert your Installation disk into your DVD drive, and reboot. Make sure you can boot from the DVD.

2) Press any key to boot from CD when the option appears.

3) At this point, you have already done a clean install over your existing installation.

4) Select "Repair Your Computer" from the installation menu (see screen shot below).

5) Select your Windows installation you want to restore to.

6) Select Command Prompt. This will bring up the command prompt window.

Warning

This starts getting complicated, and if you do something incorrectly, it could cause problems. Make sure you have your windows.old folder backed up, as well as your current installation (if needed).

Type each command EXACTLY as it is written! If you misspell what is in the code box, you will misspell the folder, possibly causing problems or errors!

Note

When you type one or more of the commands at the command prompt in the following steps in this section, and you then press ENTER, you may receive the following message:
The system cannot find the file specified.
If you receive this message, go to the next step in this section, and then type the command in that next step.

7) Type the following commands in, one at a time. Press ENTER at the end of each line. This will rename the windows.old folders, in preparation of being moved.

Code:

c:

Code:

ren Windows Windows.Vista

Code:

ren "Program Files" "Program Files.Vista"

Code:

ren "Users" "Users.Vista"

Code:

ren "Documents and Settings" "Documents and Settings.Vista"

8) Now we will move the folders over the new ones, restoring your old settings and files. Again, type the commands in one at a time, pressing ENTER at the end of each. If you are using a drive other than c: for your windows installation, replace c: with that drive letter!

Code:

move /y c:\windows.old\windows c:\

Code:

move /y "c:\windows.old\program files" c:\

8a) When the previous Windows installation was Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Microsoft Windows XP, or Microsoft Windows 2000:

Code:

move /y "c:\windows.old\documents and settings" c:\

8b) When the previous Windows installation was a different version of Windows Vista or Windows Seven:

Code:

move /y c:\windows.old\users c:\

9) Now we need to restore the boot sector of the previous installation.NOTE: D: represents the DVD drive in the following commands. If the DVD drive on the computer is represented by a different letter, such as E:, use that letter in the command.
When the previous Windows installation was Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Microsoft Windows XP, or Microsoft Windows 2000

Code:

D:\boot\bootsect /nt52 c:

When the previous Windows installation was a different version of Windows Vista

Code:

D:\boot\bootsect /nt60 c:

10) Restore the Boot.ini file for the previous Windows Installation of Windows XP or Windows 2000
Note: Only follow these steps when the previous installation is Windows XP or Windows 2000.

Code:

c:

Code:

attrib boot.ini.saved -s -h -r

Code:

ren"boot.ini.saved""boot.ini"

Code:

attrib boot.ini +s +h +r

11) Exit Command Prompt by typing:

Code:

exit

Then restart your computer.

Your Windows installation will start as normal, with the newly restored files and settings.

Warning

This does NOT work perfectly!!!
When I used this, I still encountered some errors, such as TWO Program Files folders, and missing icon pictures.

This is NOT a recommended way to do a restore! It will work, but you should back up your data and take the time to either create a restore image, or reinstall your files.

It WILL work just fine for files such as those in your Documents folder.

For anyone that wishes to use it, I hope it works for you.
I hope this tutorial will help many a person, and provide a solution.

~Lordbob

Related Tutorials

**damastah** · 07-20-2009

wow thats long. ok
can you define windows.old for me?

**Brink** · 07-20-2009

Hello Damastah,

I have updated the information box at the top of the tutorial for this for you.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

**lordbob75** · 07-20-2009

Quote: Originally Posted by damastah

wow thats long. ok
can you define windows.old for me?

Quote: Originally Posted by Brink

Hello Damastah,

I have updated the information box at the top of the tutorial for this for you.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

Hey, why didn't you tell me!!?!?!?!

LOL, no just kidding Shawn, don't worry about it.

Sorry I forgot to put that in. I sort of expected anyone that used this to know about it.

~Lordbob

**Brink** · 07-21-2009

LOL, sorry David. I'm always updating this and that so often, I often forget to.

**lordbob75** · 07-21-2009

Quote: Originally Posted by Brink

LOL, sorry David. I'm always updating this and that so often, I often forget to.

As I said, it's fine.

~Lordbob

**Saldukele** · 02-16-2010

Hello,
I had windows 7 installed and went back to windows Vista, folowing all the steps in this topic, but it doesnt seem to be working properly, looks like some drivers are missing. And i had recovery partition on my pc, where i could reinstall my pc to factory settings, now i cant do that.
Is there something i did wrong or it has to be like that?

Thank you

**lordbob75** · 02-17-2010

When you port over files and settings, things like programs, drivers, and anything installed will have to be reinstalled.

This is on purpose, and will rarely work. They need to be reinstalled because they add things to the registry that this restore WILL NOT bring over. The Vista registry is different from Sevens, and the program needs those registry files.
Drivers especially fall into this category.

Did your computer come pre-installed with Vista or Seven? If it was Seven, then you cannot restore from Vista, you will need to reinstall Seven first. If you did have Vista pre-installed then you will should try booting into the Vista install CD and restoring with that partition.

~Lordbob

**shasta588** · 06-01-2010

if I have my windows.old folder on an separate hard drive in which steps do I need to change the c: to the letter of the other hard drive?

**shasta588** · 06-02-2010

never mind I figured out my last question. but I do have a new one. when I get to the part where I'm supposed to move the files I typed the first command (compensating for my external HD of course) but it tells me "Access is denied" how do I get it to move it?

07-20-2009
damastah Vista Home Premium 32bit. 22 posts	Re: Windows.old folder - Restore into a new installation wow thats long. ok can you define windows.old for me?
My System Specs

07-20-2009
Brink Vista x64 Ultimate SP2, Windows 7 Ultimate x64 SP1 29,548 posts Texas, USA	Re: Windows.old folder - Restore into a new installation Hello Damastah, I have updated the information box at the top of the tutorial for this for you. Hope this helps, Shawn
My System Specs

07-20-2009
lordbob75 Windows 7 x64 build 7100 & Ubuntu 9.04 1,676 posts In my Fortress	Re: Windows.old folder - Restore into a new installation Quote: Originally Posted by damastah wow thats long. ok can you define windows.old for me? Quote: Originally Posted by Brink Hello Damastah, I have updated the information box at the top of the tutorial for this for you. Hope this helps, Shawn Hey, why didn't you tell me!!?!?!?! LOL, no just kidding Shawn, don't worry about it. Sorry I forgot to put that in. I sort of expected anyone that used this to know about it. ~Lordbob
My System Specs

07-21-2009
Brink Vista x64 Ultimate SP2, Windows 7 Ultimate x64 SP1 29,548 posts Texas, USA	Re: Windows.old folder - Restore into a new installation LOL, sorry David. I'm always updating this and that so often, I often forget to.
My System Specs

07-21-2009
lordbob75 Windows 7 x64 build 7100 & Ubuntu 9.04 1,676 posts In my Fortress	Re: Windows.old folder - Restore into a new installation Quote: Originally Posted by Brink LOL, sorry David. I'm always updating this and that so often, I often forget to. As I said, it's fine. ~Lordbob
My System Specs

02-16-2010
Saldukele Vista home premium 32bit 1 posts	Re: Windows.old folder - Restore into a new installation Hello, I had windows 7 installed and went back to windows Vista, folowing all the steps in this topic, but it doesnt seem to be working properly, looks like some drivers are missing. And i had recovery partition on my pc, where i could reinstall my pc to factory settings, now i cant do that. Is there something i did wrong or it has to be like that? Thank you
My System Specs

02-17-2010
lordbob75 Windows 7 x64 build 7100 & Ubuntu 9.04 1,676 posts In my Fortress	Re: Windows.old folder - Restore into a new installation When you port over files and settings, things like programs, drivers, and anything installed will have to be reinstalled. This is on purpose, and will rarely work. They need to be reinstalled because they add things to the registry that this restore WILL NOT bring over. The Vista registry is different from Sevens, and the program needs those registry files. Drivers especially fall into this category. Did your computer come pre-installed with Vista or Seven? If it was Seven, then you cannot restore from Vista, you will need to reinstall Seven first. If you did have Vista pre-installed then you will should try booting into the Vista install CD and restoring with that partition. ~Lordbob
My System Specs

06-01-2010
shasta588 windows 7 2 posts	Re: Windows.old folder - Restore into a new installation if I have my windows.old folder on an separate hard drive in which steps do I need to change the c: to the letter of the other hard drive?
My System Specs

06-02-2010
shasta588 windows 7 2 posts	Re: Windows.old folder - Restore into a new installation never mind I figured out my last question. but I do have a new one. when I get to the part where I'm supposed to move the files I typed the first command (compensating for my external HD of course) but it tells me "Access is denied" how do I get it to move it?
My System Specs

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